Brake means for tufting-yarn spool



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Filed March 17, 1954 'E. s. PARSONS BRAKE MEANS FOR TUFTING-YARN sPo oL.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 23, 1957 E. S. PARSONS BRAKE MEANS FORTUFTING-YARN SPOOL Filed March 1'7, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United StatesPatent BRAKE MEANS FOR TUFTING-YARN SPOOL Edgar S. Parsons, Natiek,Mass., assignor to Roxbury Carpet Company, Saxonville, Mass., acorporation of Massachusetts This invention pertains to Axminster loomsand relates more particularly to improved brake means for thetufting-yarn spool which is carried by a tube frame of such a loom, thedevice of the present invention being applicable for example, butwithout limitation thereto, to an Axminster loom equipped with devicessuch as described in the copending application filed by Parsons et al.on June 11, 1953, Serial No. 360,896.

In Axminster looms, spools of tufting-yarn are rotatably mounted in tubeframes which in turn are carried by intermittently moving endlessconveyor chains for presentation one after another at the weaving point.While the tube frames are being carried by the conveyor-chains, thespools on the frames are prevented from rotating by brake devices. Whenthe foremost tube frame of the series arrives at the weaving point, theconveyor chains dwell and the foremost tube frame is' automaticallyremoved from the chains by so-called clutch devices which engageopposite ends respectively of the tube frame and support the latterwhile moving the tube frame through the weaving-in cycle, during whichthe end portions of the tufting-yarns are locked into the base fabricand cut off, after which the tube frame is restored to the conveyorchains. As more fully'described in the aforesaid copending application,the brake which prevents rotation of the spool during the travel of thetube frame with the conveyor chains is released, thereby to permitrotation of the spool, as an incident to the gripping of the tube frameby I the clutch devices, and a second spool brake device comes intoaction, during the weaving-in cycle, to control the tension on thetufting-yarn as the latter is drawn off from the spool. The presentinvention relates more specifically to the brake means which preventsrotation of the spool during the travel of the tube frame with theconveyor chains.

In the arrangement described in the above copending application, thebrake shoe, which normally engages the rim of the spool to prevent thelatter from turning during the travel of the tube frame with theconveyor chain, is carried by a resilient arm fixed at one end to thetube frame and having the brake shoe mounted on its other or free end,the arm being so arranged that, if not otherwise actuated, the brakeshoe would be slightly spaced from the rim of the spool. To hold thebrake shoe against the spool rim a compression spring normally pressesagainst the underside of the arm which carries the brake shoe, thuslifting the free end of the arm sufficiently to force the brake shoeagainst the spool rim, thereby to prevent the latter from turning. Theclutch device which takes the tube frame from the chains and carries itthrough the weaving-in cycle comprises a part which compresses saidspring, as the clutch device seizes the tube frame, thus relieving thepressure which the spring normally exerts against the arm which carriesthe brake shoe, and the brake shoe moves away slightly from the rim ofthe spool to allow the latter to turn. The rim of the spool is spacedbut a short distance, for example /2", from the upper surface of thetube frame so that Patented July 23, 1957 there is little available roomin which to locate the brake shoe or provide for its actuation. In thedevice of said copending application, the resilient arm which carriesthe brake shoe is of substantial length, for instance, six or moreinches, in order that sufficient strength coupled with the requisiteresilience may be assured. The fixed end of this arm is secured to thetube frame by screws or bolts, and as there is no means for adjustingthe arm, the latter must be shaped with precision in order that, wheninstalled, the brake shoe shall be spaced the desired slight distancefrom the spool rim. Moreover, although thebrake shoe wears and must bereplaced at intervals, it is impractical to replace the brake shoe ofthe previous device except by removing the entire arm from the frame, anoperation which requires the use of tools, with the result thatreplacement of the brake shoe is often too long delayed.

The present invention has for an object the provision of spool brakingmeans of an improved type such that no substantial care is necessary ininstalling the parts to insure proper operation. A further object is toprovide spool braking means wherein the brake shoe is so supported thatit falls freely by gravity action away from the spool rim when releasedfrom the action of the compression spring. A further object is toprovide improved braking means such that the brake shoe carrier,together with the brake shoe, may be removed instantly from the tubeframe without requiring the use'of tools, thus greatly facilitating thereplacement of a worn brake shoe. Other and further objects andadvantages ofthe invention will be pointed out in the following moredetailed description and by reference to the accompanying drawings,wherein Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevation showing one end portionof a tube frame with one spool mounted therein, and showing the tubeframe equipped with the improved spool braking means of the presentinvention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 1, viewed from theright-hand side of the latter;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevation, partly in vertical section andwith parts broken away, showing details of the spool braking means ofthe present invention, the parts being shown in the position which theyoccupy while the tube frame is being carried along by the conveyorchains;

Fig. 4 is an end elevation showing the parts illustrated in Fig. 3; I

Fig. 5 is a view generally similar to Fig. 3, but showing the parts inthe position which they occupy while the tube frame is going throughtheweaving-in cycle;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the brake shoe carrier removedfrom the tube frame; and

Fig. 7 is an elevation showing a desirable form of fulcrum means for thearm which carries the brake shoe.

Referring to the drawings, the character F (Fig. 1) indicates a tubeframe of generally conventional construction such as is used in anAxminster loom, only the right-hand end portion of the tube frame beingherein illustrated. This frame comprises an elongate hollow body portionhaving the front Wall 10, a corresponding rear wall 11, a top wall 12(Fig. 3), and a bottom wall 13, these walls being of sheet metal andshaped to define an interior chamber C, Fig. 3. This chamber is closedat the right-hand end of the frame by a rigid plate 14 having a bottomflange 14a (Fig. 3) which overlies the bottom wall 13 of the frame andto which it is secured by screws or rivets. A rigid vertical bearingguide 15 is fixed to the inner surface of the plate 14, this guide 15being forked at its upper end, and, between the plate' 14 and the member15, the lower end portion of a spring finger 16 is secured, this fingerextending upwardly beyond the upper end of the member 15 andbeting'biased toward the left (Fig. 1) by a spring 17. The finger 116carries a bearing 18 in which turns one pintle 19 of the tufting-yarnspool S, a similar pintle, at the opposite end of. the spool turning ina bearing 20, carried by a bracket 21 secured to the top wall 12 of thetube frame. The spool S has radial flanges or heads H and H at itsopposite ends, the right hand head H as here'illu" 'rated'bein'gprovided with .a' peripheral rim R for engagement by a brake shoe B, ashereinafter described.

A plate 22 (Fig.3) underlies the right-hand end portion of the top wall12 of the frame, this plate being secured. to the top wall by a screw 23and by a fulcrum stud D (Fig. 3), comprising a screw-threaded stemportion 24 and a head portion 25, the latter contacting the uppersurface of the wall 12. This stud D, as illustrated in detail in Fig. 7,is provided with a circumferential groove 26 in its head, this groovedefining a neck portion 27 of a diameter substantially less than that ofthe main portion of the head. This stud forms a fulcrum support for anarm 28 (Fig. 6) which supports the brake shoe B. This arm, which isdesirably of stiffly resilient material, for example spring steel, is ofa thickness somewhat less than the axial length of the neck portion 27of the stud, and is forked at one end to define the substantiallyparallel fingers 30 and 31 which are separated by the open endedelongate slot 32. The width of this slot is such as to permit it toreceive the neck portion 27 of the stud with a free fit, and since thethickness of the material of the arm 28 is less than the axial length ofthe neck portion 27 of the stud, the arm, when assembled with the stud,is free to rock up and down to a limited degree, and is also capable ofbeing swung horizontally about the vertical axis of the stud as a pivot.The brake shoe B is secured to the free end of the arm 28, for exampleby spring clips 29, so that it may be removed from the arm and replacedby a new brake shoe. The arm 28 (Fig. 6) is provided with an aperture 33at a point intermediate its ends, and this aperture receives a pin 34(Fig. 3) which fits loosely within said aperture and which has anenlarged portion 35 forming a seat on which the right-hand portion ofthe arm 28 normally rests. The pin extends down into the cavity C andthrough a sleeve 36 on which the enlargement 35 of the pin rests andwhich is capable of sliding vertically in aligned guide openings in theparts 12 and 22, and which is provided with a radial flange or collar 37which forms an abutment for the upper end of a compression spring 38.The lower portion of this spring is centered by a stationary 'stud 38aprojecting up from the floor of the chamber C. The spring 38 tends tomove the flange 37 upwardly and thus to push the pin 34 upwardly and inthis way to lift the free end portion of the arm 28 and force the brakeshoe B against the rim R of the spool head.

One arm 39 (Fig. 3) of a bell crank lever is slotted to provide fingerswhich straddle the vertically movable sleeve 36 above flange 37 andwhich rest upon the upper surface of the flange 37 at diametricallyopposite points. This bell crank lever is fulcrumed at 4 3 where itpasses through an opening 40a (Fig. 2) in the end wall 14 of the frameand comprises the upwardly directed rigid arm 41 which has an outwardlydirected finger 42 at its upper end which, when the tube frame istraveling with the chain, engages a fixed stop member 43 constituted bythe outwardly and upwardly bent upper portion of theend wall 14. Thespring 17 above referred to tends to swing the bell crank lever so thatthe part 42 engages the stop 43, as shown in Fig. 3, thus rocking thearms 39 upwardly and permitting the spring 38 to hold the brake shoe Bin contact with the rim R of the spool head.

One of the clutch devices which take the spool frame from the conveyorand carry it through the weaving-in cycle is so designed that When, inthe operation of the Axminster loom, this particular tube frame arrivesat the weaving point and the frame is removed from the conveyor chain,the arm 41 of the bell crank lever is swung to the position shown inFig. 35, thus rocking the arm 39 do w y so as c mpre sth pri s e pin 3.4is thereby forced to move downwardly in response to the action ofgravity and the brake shoe B drops freely away from the spool rim, thusallowing the spool to turn except as its turning is thereaftercontrolled, during the weaving-in cycle, by means not hereinillustrated. When the tube frame is again restored to the conveyorchain, the arm 41 of the bell crank lever is released and spring 38immediately restores the brake shoe B to its normal operative position.

If, during the operation of the loom, the brake shoe B eventuallybecomes worn so that it requires to be replaced, it is merely necessaryto remove the spool from the tube frame, whereupon that end of the arm28 which carries the brake shoe may be lifted, if necessary by applyingsome bending force to the flexible arm, so as to disengage the arm fromthe pin 34. The arm may then be swung horizontally about the axis of thefulcrum stud D and slid off from the fulcrum stud, thus making it veryconvenient to remove the old brake shoe and replace it by a new one. Theslotted end of the arm is then slid onto the neck portion 27 of thefulcrum stud and the arm is swung back within the frame until theaperture 33 is aligned with the pin 34, the arm then being lowered sothat the pin projects through the hole 33 and thus holds the arm in itsnormal operative posi tion where the brake shoe is immediately below therim of the spool head. It is thus possible, without the use of any toolswhatsoever, to remove the brake shoe from the tube frame for replacementor repair, the operation of removing it being one which requires only afew seconds to perform, so that there is no legitimate excuse for notchanging the brake shoe when the brake shoe has become too much worn foreffective operation.

By supporting the brake shoe as above described, there is no necessityfor accurate adjustment of parts, since the arm 28 which supports thebrake shoe is loosely fulcrurned on the stud D andimmediately drops awayfrom the rim of the spool when the pin 34 is depressed by lever arm 39and no longer supports the arm 28 in its normal position. Thus, withoutrequiring expensive accuracy of parts employed for supporting the brakeshoe, it is assured that the brake shoe will be freed instantly from thespool rim at the proper time, and likewise that the rake shoe will bemoved into operative engagement with the spool rim at the proper pointin the operating cycle.

While one desirable embodiment of the invention has herein beenillustrated by way of example, it is to be understood that the inventionis broadly inclusive of any and all modifications falling within thescope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In combination with a tube frame of the kind used in an Axminsterloom, said frame having bearings for a tufting-yarn spool, a brake shoeengageable with the rim of a spool mounted in said bearings thereby toprevent rotation of the spool, a stud projecting upwardly from the topof the frame, a lever having one end fulcrumed on said stud, the brakeshoe being mounted on the opposite or free end of the lever, the leverhaving an aperture intermediate its ends, a vertically movable pin whoseupper end passes freely through the aperture in the lever, a compressionspring normally urging the pin upwardly, thereby to raise the free endof the lever and force the brake shoe against the spool rim, and meansoperative to compress the spring, thereby to permit the brake shoe todrop by gravity action away from the spool rim.

2. In combination with a tube frame according to claim 1, wherein thepin passes through a sleeve which slides in guides carried by the tubeframe, the pin having an enlargement which rests on the upper end of thesleeve, the sleeve having a radial flange forming an abutment for theupper end of the spring, a bell crank lever pivotally supported by thetube frame, one arm of said lever overlying the flange of the sleeve andthe other arm of the lever being operative to move the first armdownwardly thereby to compress the spring.

3. In combination with a tube frame of the kind used in an Axminsterloom, said frame having bearings for a tufting-yarn spool, a movablebrake shoe engageable at times with the rim of a spool mounted in saidbearings, thereby to prevent rotation of the spool, an elongate armcarrying the brake shoe at one end, the opposite end of the arm havingan elongate open slot, a stud projecting upwardly from the top of thetube frame, the stud having a circumferential groove providing a neckwhich is loosely received in the slot in said arm, the arm having anaperture intermediate its ends, and a pin which is normally disposed insaid aperture and which prevents orientation of the arm about said stud.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 3, wherein the slot in the armwhich carries the brake shoe is of a width slightly greater than thediameter of the neck of the stud whereby the arm is free to move up anddown to a limited extent about its contact with the stud' as a fulcrum,the pin which passes through the aperture in the arm being verticallymovable, a spring which normally urges said pin upwardly, thereby tomove the brake shoe into contact with the spool rim, and means forpreventing the spring from so acting.

5. In a tube frame for use in Axminster looms in combination, means forsupporting a tufting-yarn spool, a brake shoe engageable at times withthe rim of the spool to prevent rotation of the spool, a stifilyresilient lever on which the brake shoe is mounted, a compression springnormally holding the lever in a position such that the brake shoecontacts the spool rim, means for compressing the spring thereby toallow the lever to move so that the brake shoe is spaced from the spoolrim, the arm which supports the brake shoe having an opening at the endopposite that on which the brake shoe is mounted, said opening receivinga fixed stud about which the arm may be swung freely in a horizontalplane, thearm having another opening, intermediate its ends, a headlesspin which fits loosely in said latter opening, thereby normally game toprevent the arm from swinging horizontally, the lever beingdisengageable from the pin, after removal of the spool from the frame,thereby allowing the lever to be swung horizontally so as to carry thebrake shoe laterally away from the spool rim.

6. In a tube frame for use in Axminster looms in combination means forsupporting a tufting-yarn spool, a brake shoe engageable with the rim ofthe spool to prevent rotation of the spool, a stifiiy resilient arm onone end of which the brake shoe is mounted, a compression spring forurging the brake shoe into contact with the spool rim, means forcompressing the spring thereby to allow separation of the brake shoefrom the spool rim, the arm which supports the brake shoe having anelongate open slot at its opposite end, a fixed stud within said slot,said stud providing a fulcrum about which the arm may swing up and downand also in a horizontal plane, the arm having an aperture intermediateits ends, a vertically movable pin normally projecting up into saidlatter aperture, thereby to position the arm that the brake shoe isoperatively related to the spool rim, the pin being of such length that,after removal of the spool from the frame, the brake carrying end of thearm may be flexed upwardly to disengage it from thetpin, therebypermitting the arm to be removed from the frame.

7. A tube frame of the kind which is used in an Axminster loom andwhich, in use, is moved from idle position to a weaving position whereit performs a weaving-in cycle, at the completion of which it is movedto idle position, and which has bearings for a tufting-yarn spoolprovided with a head having a rim, and which also has means for applyinguniform tension to the yarn as it is drawn from the spool during theperformance of the weaving-in cycle, and which, in addition, has brakemeans operative to prevent the spool from turning while the latter is inidle position, characterized in that said brake means comprises a brakeshoe and a movable carrier for the shoe which tends to maintain the shoespaced from' the rim of the spool head, a spring capable, while theframe is in idle position, of so positioning the carrier as to hold theshoe in operative contact with the spool rirri, thereby to preventrotation of the spool, and means capa ble of so stressing the spring,while the frame is performing the weaving-in cycle that the carrier isfree completely to separate the brake shoe from the spool rim.

8. A tube frame according to claim 7, further characterized in that thecarrier for the brake shoe is an elongate lever fulcrumed at one end onthe frame so that its opposite end may move up or down, the brake shoebeing mounted on the last-named end of the lever, the lever beinglocated below and in the plane of the spool axis so that the weight ofthe lever tends to move the brake shoe down and away from the rim of thespool head, the spring being a compression spring, tending to engage thebrake shoe with the spool rim, and the means capable of so stressing thespring as to allow the carrier to drop and separate the brake shoe fromthe spool rim comprising a bell crank lever, one end of which engagesthe upper end of the compression spring, said lever also having anactuating arm by means of which it may be rocked, thereby to compressthe spring.

9. In a tube frame for use in Axminster looms, in combination, means forsupporting a tufting-yarn spool, a brake shoe engageable with the rim ofthe spool to pre vent rotation of the spool, an elongate carrier arm, tooneend of which the brake shoe is attached, said arm having an aperturenear that end which carries the brake shoe, and having an open-endedslot adjacent to its opposite end, a compression spring below that endof the arm which carries the brake shoe, means for transmitting motionfrom theupper'end of the spring to said arm, said means comprising a pinwhich extends up through the aperture in said arm, means for compressingthe spring, thereby to allow the brake shoe to move down and away fromthe spool rim, and supporting means for the carrier arm comprising apart on which the slotted end of the arm rests and which constitutes afulcrum about which the arm may rock, and a fixed part passing freelythrough the slot in the arm, the parts thus being so constructed andarranged that after removal of the spool from the frame the arm,together with the brake shoe, may freely be removed as a unit from theframe without recourse to the use of tools.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,924,904 Bixby Aug. 29, 1933 2,161,761 Hathaway June 6, 1939 2,161,762Hathaway June 6, 1939

